You Don't Know What You Don't Know...: Facing Our Triggers: A Journey Toward Emotional Freedom

By Joycelyn Johnson

The Courage to Face What Hurts
For a long time, I believed that if I just kept moving forward, I could outrun the pain. I avoided difficult conversations, shut down when things got too intense, and built walls around my heart to keep people-and my own feelings-at a distance. What I didn't know then was that I wasn't protecting myself. I was only postponing the healing I desperately needed.

What Are Triggers-and What Are They Not?
In this book, we define triggers as emotional responses that are disproportionate to the current situation but entirely appropriate given the past. Triggers often arise from unhealed wounds, unmet needs, or experiences that overwhelmed us when we didn't have the tools to process them. They are not just annoyances or pet peeves. They are invitations-opportunities to pause, explore, and heal.

Triggers are not excuses for hurting others or withdrawing from life. They are not your identity. They are cluesthat lead you back to the parts of yourself that are still longing for safety, understanding, and love.

The Goal of This Book
This is a journey toward emotional freedom-one that doesn't ask you to deny your pain or suppress your reactions, but rather to explore them with gentle curiosity. The path won't always be easy, but it will be worth it. Along the way, you'll gain tools for self-awareness, emotional regulation, and deeper connection-with yourself and others.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Courage to Face What Hurts

Part I: Understanding Triggers
Chapter 1: What Are Triggers, Really?
Chapter 2: The Root Beneath the Reaction
Chapter 3: Why Triggers Matter

Part II: Reclaiming Power in Triggering Moments
Chapter 4: Awareness Is the First Step
Chapter 5: Your Reaction Isn't the Problem
Chapter 6: Choosing a New Response

Part III: Practical Tools for Navigating Triggers
Chapter 7: The Grounding Toolkit
Chapter 8: Naming and Reframing the Trigger
Chapter 9: Reaffirming Safety and Repair

Part IV: Living with More Freedom
Chapter 10: Healing Doesn't Mean Perfection
Chapter 11: Creating a New Story
Chapter 12: You Deserve to Be Free

Selected Resources

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0F2STGVFT
• ISBN13: 9798315842569
• Release Date: March 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 78 Pages
• Weight: 0.26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"